Key case



Aug. 4, 1959 F, E TAYLOR 2,897,667

` KEY CASE Filed 0G15. l, 1957 FIG. l.

INV ENTOR 2B I Fr ank E. Taylor nited States Patent O KEY CASE Frank E. Taylor, Wichita, Kans. Application October 1, 1957, Serial No. 687,397

2 Claims. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates to key cases and more particularly to a key case having means for supporting a plurality of keys in a retractible position.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a key case that will compactly house a plurality of keys in a readily and instantly available manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a key case of the above type having an actuating mechanism in which the keys may be independently moved between a retracted and an extended position as may be required.

yOther objects of the invention are to provide a key case bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and efficient in operation.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a key case made in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of one of the main base parts forming a part of the present invention showing the operating mechanism in a key extended position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showing the actuating mechanism in a key retracted position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged front elevational view of the device shown in Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 5 5 of Figure 3.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a key case made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a pair of main base plate members 12 that are substantially identical in construction and which are assembled with a center plate 30 therebetween.

As is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 5, each main base plate 12 is provided with a central longitudinal channel 14 within which a plate 15 is slidably supported for reciprocating longitudinal movement. This plate 15 includes a transversely inwardly extending mounting stud 16 which is adapted to releasably engage within the conventional opening in a tumbler type key. A flexible cable 18 is formed into a loop that is connected at one portion to the plate 15 and extends around a guide member 19 within a groove 20 formed by a laterally inwardly extending ange 21 along the outer periphery of the main base plate 12. A boss 23 formed at the opposite side of the main base plate 12 provides a substantially at continuous surface with the adjacent portions of the main base plate so as to abut with the facing side of the center plate 15. The boss 23 and guide member 19 define an enlarged central channel or keyway 25 within which the key 26 is slidably supported for movement between a retracted position 26 and an extended position 26a. A selector button 28 is slidably mounted upon one edge of Patented Aug. 4, 1959 the assembled main base plates and has an inwardly extending ange 29 that is slidably received within the cable groove 20. This flange 29 is connected to the cable 18 at a position spaced from the connection of the cable to the actuating plate 15. The main base plates 12 and center plate 30 are secured together, such as by screws 32 to facilitate the initial installation and subsequent change of keys within the holder. Furthermore, the guide member 19in one or both of the main base plates 12 may be provided with a cutout portion 34 which will permit the outwardly extended key 26a to be rotated ninety degrees about the mounting stud 16 to an angularly related position 2Gb which facilitates the use of the device in connection with automobile ignition keys so that the holder will hang downwardly in a conventional manner along the front of the dashboard of the vehicle.

The operation of the holder is such that the selector buttons 28 are both normally toward the open end of the holder. However, by withdrawing either one of the selector buttons toward the rear of the holder, the retracted key 26 is moved forwardly under the action of the mounting stud 16 through the cable connection with the selector button to an extended position 26a. Thus, by moving the rearwardly displaced selector button 28a in a forward direction, the extended key 26a may be again returned to the retracted position 26. Identifying means can be associated with each of the selector buttons, such as by markings, shape, or the like, so as to facilitate the selection of the proper key to be used. It has been found that by constructing the main base plates 12, the mounting studs 16, the operating plates 15, and the cables 18, a very novel and amusing effect can be obtained since it is virtually impossible to detect the movement of the cable, mounting studs 16, and operator plates 15 so that the manner of operation of the device is a mystery.

While Various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as -new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A key case comprising, in combination, a pair of base plates, a ilat center plate intermediate said base plates, means releasably securing said base and center plates to gether, each of said base plates dening a longitudinal keyway for slidably receiving a key, manually operated means selectively effecting reciprocating longitudinal movement of the key in each said keyway between the retracted and an extended position, each of said base plates having a groove recessed below said keyway and extending parallel therewith, a plate slidably supported within said groove for effecting longitudinal movement of the key carried by said plate, said manually operated means comprising a selector button slidably supported upon each of said base plates, a lug secured to said plate within said groove for engagement with a key, and means connecting said selector button to said lug comprising a ilexible cable, said button and said plate being secured to opposite ends of said cable.

2. The combination according to claim l, further including guide means, and said exible cable defines a closed loop extending around said guide means.

Segal Aug. 29, 1933 Segal Nov. 14, 1933 

